Gadsden's paving program 35 percent complete

Published: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 6:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 6:54 p.m.

Gadsden’s paving program for the year is about 35 percent complete and has stopped because of weather, City Engineer Chad Hare told the City Council Thursday.

Hare said about $725,000 of the $2 million budgeted for paving this fiscal year has been expended, and that paving will begin again when the weather improves.

“It’s going to depend on when the weather breaks and they can get back out there,” he said, adding that he hopes the work can be completed by early summer.

“They made good progress when we were going,” Hare said.

Temperatures must be between 50 and 60 degrees for paving to begin again, Hare said. Under current conditions, crews would only be able to pave for a day or two.

Paving began in October and crews were able to work through mid-December, according to Hare. The work is being done by McCartney Construction.

Hare said 115 street segments are scheduled to be paved and 39 have been completed.

A list of streets scheduled for paving is on the city’s website at www.cityofgadsden.com, under engineering. Hare said he hopes to update the list to show the progress that is being made.

Hare in a interview said this is the most the city has spent on paving in a year since he has been city engineer. He said the normal figure is about $1 million a year, although only $750,000 was budgeted last year.

In other action, the council approved accepting a grant for the Senior Nutrition Program to provide meals for senior citizens at Carver and Elliott community centers.

The city has sponsored the nutrition program for many years. The grant for the fiscal year is $102,764.

The council also approved a special events alcoholic beverage license for Ducks Unlimited for an event from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Feb. 9 at 115 N. Fifth St. and 118 Court St.

An off-premises beer and wine license for Food World at Canterberry Station was approved.

<p>Gadsden's paving program for the year is about 35 percent complete and has stopped because of weather, City Engineer Chad Hare told the City Council Thursday.</p><p>Hare said about $725,000 of the $2 million budgeted for paving this fiscal year has been expended, and that paving will begin again when the weather improves.</p><p>“It's going to depend on when the weather breaks and they can get back out there,” he said, adding that he hopes the work can be completed by early summer.</p><p>“They made good progress when we were going,” Hare said.</p><p>Temperatures must be between 50 and 60 degrees for paving to begin again, Hare said. Under current conditions, crews would only be able to pave for a day or two.</p><p>Paving began in October and crews were able to work through mid-December, according to Hare. The work is being done by McCartney Construction.</p><p>Hare said 115 street segments are scheduled to be paved and 39 have been completed.</p><p>A list of streets scheduled for paving is on the city's website at www.cityofgadsden.com, under engineering. Hare said he hopes to update the list to show the progress that is being made.</p><p>Hare in a interview said this is the most the city has spent on paving in a year since he has been city engineer. He said the normal figure is about $1 million a year, although only $750,000 was budgeted last year.</p><p>In other action, the council approved accepting a grant for the Senior Nutrition Program to provide meals for senior citizens at Carver and Elliott community centers. </p><p>The city has sponsored the nutrition program for many years. The grant for the fiscal year is $102,764.</p><p>The council also approved a special events alcoholic beverage license for Ducks Unlimited for an event from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Feb. 9 at 115 N. Fifth St. and 118 Court St.</p><p>An off-premises beer and wine license for Food World at Canterberry Station was approved.</p>